Zombie survival simulation is the closest thing to true virtual reality

If ever there was to be a marriage between two inanimate objects with the cheesy grandeur of primetime, American-television, it would be held between the Oculus Rift and the Zero Latency’s Inversion Project. The two devices complement each other’s individual immersive gaming aspects to such a degree, that the combined experience is the closest thing to virtual reality that technology has to offer (as of yet).

Via Project Grey

As you may recall, Oculus Rift is a virtual-reality headset with 360 degree head tracking. It completely encapsulates one’s field-of-view to create the impression that they are actually in the game’s world. Very, very cool concept ― excluding the fact you’re forced to rely on a game controller for movement while your brain constantly urges you to stand up and physically walk. But the inability to do so, causes a huge loss of immersion and a sort of awkward disconnect.

Inversion Project solves this issue by integrating a wireless backpack, trackable weapons(serving as controllers), and a slew of tracking cameras to let you physically explore game worlds by walking, jumping, crouching and even shooting; all in 360 degrees, with zero wires.

Developed by the studio Zero Latency, Inversion Project opens new doors for entertainment as well dangerous training simulations without genuine danger. Although the VR system is schedule to launch at some point in 2014, it was on display at the 2014 Pausefest in Melbourne, Australia, a convention dedicated to technology, digital trends and innovation.

Zero Latency’s flagship project, Zombie Fort: Smackdown, exemplifies the adrenaline-filled gaming only possible with this kind of complete immersion. Correspondent Samuel Tates of Project Grey, recently had the opportunity test Zombie Fort equipped with a double regalia of both Oculus Rift and Inversion Project. “With the Zero Latency wireless rig, movement tracking system and backpack I was literally ducking zombie swings,” The experience was so palpitating that he kept forgetting to breath, “The lights go up, the zombies disappear, and you take off the Oculus. Suddenly you’re back in a warehouse, with pizza boxes, beer bottles and post it notes. Three guys at a computer have just watched you prance around an empty room like you were in the scene from flashdance, but with machine guns. Your heart is racing. You finally remember to breathe.”

The tech is an impressive leap forward from the other movement tracking devices that use 360 degree treadmills to simulate movement; but unlike them, Inversion Project does not restrict the user’s movements to a single location. The entire living room becomes a playground.

There is a huge potential for this kind of technology outside of simply 3D gaming, but it can be used to conduct training for dangerous situations in complete safety.